
Pre-conference masterclass discusses taking African brands to the world
Participants challenged to identify, articulate and commercialise the cultural assets that make their brand ready for a global audience.
By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2025
In the wake of the levying by the US of 30% tariffs on South African goods, the country is facing the prospect of outright import restrictions – this time from Taiwan.
The South African government recently announced that the Taiwanese mission in Pretoria – the Taipei Liaison Office – would no longer be recognised, and that consular services would be rendered from Johannesburg, which would henceforth be known as a trade office.
Taiwan protested about this, noting that it had been undertaken without consultation. The country’s foreign ministry announced that it would consider countermeasures, including possibly stopping the export of semiconductor chips, where it is a world leader. This would be done, officials said, to “protect national dignity”.

Participants challenged to identify, articulate and commercialise the cultural assets that make their brand ready for a global audience.

Second outlet planned for Nairobi before year end, with Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco said to be future target markets.

Online search behaviour has changed significantly with the rise of AI. How can African brands adapt to this new marketing landscape?

Researchers propose a framework for packaging that senses, learns and acts – making packaging an active, AI-powered tool against food waste.

Country needs marketers to build recognition and consumer trust around Malawian products and national brand, says Deputy Minister.

Fashion brand suspends giant lingerie high above the city’s streets, using shadows to create a moving billboard for pedestrians and motorists.

Researchers describe AI influencers as having a ‘dual identity’. Consumers evaluate both ‘person’ and ‘technology’ identities at once.

Reputation and trust, once modest influences on hotel choice, have become some of the strongest predictors of patronage, study finds.

South African brands are increasingly setting the global benchmark for customer loyalty strategies, organisers say.

Global influences among younger consumers are still present, but they are being filtered through a distinctly Zambian lens.

Researchers find that lack of perceived ‘genuine care’ is the mechanism connecting AI involvement to lower trust ratings.